Mayor Joann Gattinelli talks community service, outreach and holiday activities
Giving back
Before Thanksgiving on Nov. 22, I was happy to be one of the many volunteers who delivered Thanksgiving meals to approximately 300 families. Also in attendance with me to deliver food were Councilwoman Angela Donato and Administrative Assistant Megan Tahan. The meals were provided by the generous community in Washington Township and the school staff who donated to, and organized, the “Gobble Up Hunger” food drive. I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for their donations and time helping organize and distribute the meals. Also, thank you to the COW Project for organizing this food drive and coordinating with our schools and community to deliver the food to families so they could enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday.
Shop with a Cop
A great new program initiated by the Washington Township Police Department, “Shop with a Cop,” has been underway. The purpose of Shop with a Cop is to provide children in need with a fun-filled day. The police department has been organizing and collecting donations to prepare for the day. I am proud of community programs like these because they promote positive relationships between the Washington Township police officers and the community. Children, kindergarten to sixth grade, who were selected for this program will start at police headquarters to eat some pizza, and then will shop with a cop to purchase holiday gifts for members of their families. Once the shopping is done, the children will be able to wrap their gifts with the police officers. Thank you to all who have donated to make this event possible, and thank you to our police department for your donations and your time organizing this program.
Kathy MeGee Memorial Holiday Meals Program
I was pleased to participate in the Kathy McGee Memorial Holiday Meals Program on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. Kathy McGee founded the program eleven years ago because she felt it was important for everyone to have a hot meal on the holidays. For this year’s program, approximately 45 volunteers, as well as the Knights of Columbus, joined together at the Washington Township Senior Center to make Thanksgiving meals for more than 300 families in need. I would like to thank Paul Dilks for inviting me to join this program. It was a fulfilling experience to give of my time, and I appreciate all of the volunteers who took time out of their Thanksgiving morning so the receiving families could enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal.
Joann Gattinelli is the mayor of Washington Township. She can be reached at mayorgattinelli@twp.washington.nj.us.
